Servitization and Service Innovation Lead - KTP Associate

This position offers a unique opportunity for a highly motivated individual to work at the interface of academia and industry in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate role that will deliver transformational impact. You will lead and deliver a service innovation programme within a fast-growing British SME manufacturer, helping to drive innovation and business growth in a company with strong values centred on teamwork, innovation, and excellence.
The project is fundamentally focused on servitization; supporting an engineering company transition from providing equipment through traditional capital expenditure (CapEx) systems towards a service-led, lifecycle-oriented business model. You will lead the co-design and implementation of a product-service system within the company, developing service-led concepts and offerings that create value for customers over the lifecycle of their operations.
This role is designed to enable the transition of a company towards a service-led business model, developing new forms of value creation and strengthening long-term customer relationships. You will play a key role in establishing the foundations for ongoing servitization, embedding new capabilities, and supporting the sustainable growth of the business beyond the duration of the KTP., + Service design and product-service system development
+ Servitization strategy development
+ Commercial and go-to-market activities
+ Customer and stakeholder engagement
+ Knowledge transfer and embedding
+ Academic contribution to conference papers/ journal publications
See the job description for full details of the responsibilities associated with this role.

A minimum of a 2:1 BSc degree in Engineering or Management, or a related discipline.
Essential skills, experience and attributes required include:
+ Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
+ Ability to work across technical and commercial domains
+ Experience of adapting theories and/or tools to commercial practice
+ Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to engage across multiple levels of an organisation
+ Strong project management capability, able to manage complex projects, coordinate roles, and work independently, as well as part of the team.
+ Commercially aware and able to link innovation to business value
+ Organised, adaptable and able to work effectively in an interdisciplinary collaborative environment
Desirable for the role:
A postgraduate qualification (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field, such as Engineering Management, Service Design, Operations, Innovation, or Marketing.
+ Knowledge or experience of servitization, product-service systems, or business model innovation.
+ Experience of working in manufacturing or industrial settings.
+ Experience in customer research, data analysis, or development of commercially informed strategies.

Career prospects:
This role opens up exciting career opportunities in new business development and servitization. Over 60% of our KTP associates are offered employment by their host companies at the end of the KTP.
This is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). It is essential you understand how KTP works and the vital role you will play if you secure this position. To learn more please visit: www.aston.ac.uk/ktp
The Company: A Birmingham-based, industry-leading manufacturer, specialised in engineering and producing material handling equipment.
Aston University: You will work in a project team consisting of Dr Reza Marvi, Dr Geoff Parkes, Dr Daniel Andrews from Aston University and the Senior Management Team of the Company, with the support of a Knowledge Transfer Adviser from Innovate UK.

+ Up to £4,000 for personal and professional development for the duration of the project
+ Annual leave (25 days p/a)
+ Professional support and mentorship
+ Mental Health and wellbeing support: https://www.aston.ac.uk/staff-public/hr/Benefits-and-Rewards/health-wellbeing
+ A flexible blend of on-site and remote working arrangements can be negotiated in case of positive ongoing performance.